For an estimate, feel free to contact us via email:INFO@PRESSNEWYORK.COM and please include as much information as possible.

Ideally, we'd like to see a file, but it isn't mandatory.

It’s fine if you don’t know what kind of paper you want yet, but give us a sense of how thick you want the paper to be, and maybe how much texture you want it to have, or if you want it made from recycled t-shirts or elephant dung (that really exists).

Don’t forget to include quantity - and if it’s business cards you want - how many different cards you need. Also let us know how many colors are in your design, as each color is a separate press run and will effect pricing.

That should be enough info for us to give you a rough estimate. Pricing may change a bit depending on the stock that you end up choosing, but the difference will likely be minimal.

Scroll down for more information about pricing and tips for being cost effective.

Contact us for more information about paper choices.

FILES

Ideally, we like Illustrator or InDesign files.

PDF files are also usually fine.

PLEASE EITHER OUTLINE THE TYPE OR INCLUDE THE FONTS.

Any vector-based image is good, but there are also some other images (aside from type and vector) that we can print (such as the hand-drawn porcupine example to the left), but the process of getting them to us is very specific. See instructions below.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR SCANNING AN IMAGE:

Scan it in BLACK AND WHITE at 1200 dpi and save it as a TIFF.

If you open this file in Photoshop it should be a bitmap file - which you can see by looking under the IMAGE menu option under MODE.

DO NOT convert a color or grayscale image to black and white and then save it as bitmap. It will be pixelated.

It must be done in the correct manner, or IT WILL NOT WORK.

After scanning, place your image into Illustrator and from there you can adjust the color of the image.

COLOR

Please spec a SOLID UNCOATED PANTONE number.

We mix all of our colors by hand to your specs.

If you’re not sure about your color, you can come in for a press check when your job is being done, or you can send us a swatch to match.

Scroll down for more about coming in for a PRESS CHECK.

Foil colors can be ordered from a variety of producers. If you know which foil color you want from which producer, let us know and we'll get it for you.

If you are unsure we can choose for you, or you can schedule a time to come in and choose from our catalogues.

Sample chips are also available upon request if you would like one messengered or mailed to you.

Letterpress printing with no ink is referred to as BLIND DEBOSSING. The photo to the left is an example of a card that has been blind debossed. Results have a tendency to vary depending mostly on the texture of the stock. Papers with more texture tend to accentuate blind debossing more than smoother papers. Thicker papers are also more ideal to blind deboss than thinner papers, though if there's no concern regarding how much the impression appears on the back of the card, then thinner papers work just as well.

To spec a blind deboss in a file just make it a color and let us know that you want that color blind debossed and not printed with ink.

SIZES

The largest sheet size that we can accommodate is 9.5 x 14.5”

We can print up to 8.5 x 13” in one press run, however, (aside from business cards) we typically do not gang up multiple pieces on a sheet and print them together. We’ve found that quality suffers when too much is printed at one time. A large print area is very difficult to fill-in and won’t have as deep an impression as a smaller print area.

If you want to fit a standard size envelope, CLICK HERE to download a handy chart with envelope sizes and corresponding card sizes.

PAPER

If it exists, we can probably get it.

In addition to the standard fare, we carry a variety of thick, custom-mounted papers and thick, custom-made envelopes.

Feel free to contact us for a list of what we typically keep in stock.

Samples are available upon request, or we can set up a time for you to come in and check out what we have.

PRICING

Pricing for letterpress and foil stamping is figured by the number of colors.

Each color is a separate press run, and is priced separately from the cost of paper.

For more information about ESTIMATES, scroll back up to the top of this page.

Payment may be made with cash, check or credit card. To begin your job we require a credit card number. You may choose to pay by cash or check, rather than credit card when the job is completed.

TIPS FOR COST EFFECTIVE BUSINESS CARDS:

If you’re printing business cards, we can group up to 6 business cards in a press run, depending on the design.

What that means is that the print price is the same for 1 business card, or 6 different business cards. The only price difference between the two is the cost of paper, which is minimal in comparison.

In this example, Death and Co. cards are printed with a common front, but different lots were created on the back, saving money by running them together rather than separate at different times.

Here’s another trick: WORK AND TURN.

We can do up to 3 different 2-sided business cards at the same time if it’s all the same color.

In this scenario, the black type on the front and back of the Best Made card was printed as a work and turn - completing both the front and the back in the same press run. (The red "X" was a separate press run.)

PRESS CHECKS

So you want to come in and make sure that everything looks great and we nailed the color you were dreaming of...

We love press checks because we’ll know that you’re getting exactly what you want, and we like visitors.

To come in for a press check, just let us know and we’ll schedule a time.

Be advised... If you are late we can not wait for you. Your job will be removed from press and bumped to a later date. Additional fees may also apply, and we might compose a folk song in your dishonor.

LIMITATIONS

THE LARGEST SHEET SIZE that we can accommodate is 9.5 x 14.5”

We can print up to 8.5 x 13” in one press run, however, (aside from business cards) we typically do not gang up multiple pieces on a sheet and print them together. We’ve found that quality suffers when too much is printed at one time. A large print area is very difficult to fill-in and won’t have as deep an impression as a smaller print area.

FLOODS OF COLOR do not typically work out. A square inch of filled-in color might be fine, depending on a number of factors, but larger areas tend to appear cloudy and not fully filled in, or the surrounding area becomes over-inked and fuzzy. We're more than happy to look at what you have and discuss the possibilities.

LIGHT COLORS can not be letterpress printed on DARK STOCK. There are, however, exceptions.

We've had success with metallics such as silver, gold and copper on black stock, but results may vary and are somewhat unpredictable. We're more than happy to look at what you have and discuss the possibilities. The Death and Co. cards in the photo shown are an example of silver on black stock.

If you're looking to get a light color on dark stock we recommend FOIL STAMPING, which works marvelously.